Destiny of the Republic Part 13

8 When Abram had seen the wildfire: Ridpath, When Abram had seen the wildfire: Ridpath, The Life and Work of James A. Garfield The Life and Work of James A. Garfield, 2122.

9 "Let us never praise poverty": Garfield to J. H. Rhodes, November 19, 1862, in Theodore Clarke Smith, "Let us never praise poverty": Garfield to J. H. Rhodes, November 19, 1862, in Theodore Clarke Smith, The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield, 36.

10 Between them, working as hard as they could: Ridpath, Between them, working as hard as they could: Ridpath, The Life and Work of James A. Garfield The Life and Work of James A. Garfield, 23.

11 So little did they have to spare: Alger, So little did they have to spare: Alger, From Ca.n.a.l Boy to President From Ca.n.a.l Boy to President, 5.

12 "received no aid, worked and won": Theodore Clarke Smith, "received no aid, worked and won": Theodore Clarke Smith, The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield, 11.

13 "If I ever get through a course of study": Ibid., 53. "If I ever get through a course of study": Ibid., 53.

14 She came from a long line: Conwell, She came from a long line: Conwell, The Life, Speeches, and Public Services of James A. Garfield The Life, Speeches, and Public Services of James A. Garfield, 35.

15 She donated some of her land: Alger, She donated some of her land: Alger, From Ca.n.a.l Boy to President From Ca.n.a.l Boy to President, 6.

16 "Whatever else happens": Theodore Clarke Smith, "Whatever else happens": Theodore Clarke Smith, The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield, 15.

17 Although he could not swim: Ibid., 22. Although he could not swim: Ibid., 22.

18 Garfield's first job on the ca.n.a.l: Ibid., 23. Garfield's first job on the ca.n.a.l: Ibid., 23.

19 Now it was midnight: Ibid., 24. Now it was midnight: Ibid., 24.

20 "Carefully examining it": Ibid., 2425. "Carefully examining it": Ibid., 2425.

21 "Providence only could have saved": "Providence only could have saved": New York Times New York Times, September 20, 1881.

22 "As I approached the door": Theodore Clarke Smith, "As I approached the door": Theodore Clarke Smith, The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield, 25.

23 "I took the money": Ibid., 26. "I took the money": Ibid., 26.

24 By the fall of 1851, Garfield had transformed: The Western Reserve Eclectic Inst.i.tute would become Hiram College in 1867. By the fall of 1851, Garfield had transformed: The Western Reserve Eclectic Inst.i.tute would become Hiram College in 1867.

25 "It was without a dollar of endowment": Theodore Clarke Smith, "It was without a dollar of endowment": Theodore Clarke Smith, The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield, 44.

26 Unable to afford tuition: Dean, "Reminiscences of Garfield: Garfield the Student, the Eclectic Inst.i.tute," Hiram College Archives. Unable to afford tuition: Dean, "Reminiscences of Garfield: Garfield the Student, the Eclectic Inst.i.tute," Hiram College Archives.

27 "tread was firm and free": Theodore Clarke Smith, "tread was firm and free": Theodore Clarke Smith, The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield, 46.

28 "The ice is broken": "Rough Sketch of an Introduction to a Life of General Garfield," typescript, Hiram College Archives. "The ice is broken": "Rough Sketch of an Introduction to a Life of General Garfield," typescript, Hiram College Archives.

29 His day began at 5:00 a.m.: Theodore Clarke Smith, His day began at 5:00 a.m.: Theodore Clarke Smith, The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield, 58.

30 "If at any time I began to flag": Ibid., 45. "If at any time I began to flag": Ibid., 45.

31 So vigorously did Garfield: Shaw, So vigorously did Garfield: Shaw, Lucretia Lucretia, 9.

32 "There is a high standard": Theodore Clarke Smith, "There is a high standard": Theodore Clarke Smith, The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield, 74.

33 "I am aware that I launch out": Garfield, "I am aware that I launch out": Garfield, Diary Diary, August 23, 1859, 1:34041.

34 "no heart to think of anything": Theodore Clarke Smith, "no heart to think of anything": Theodore Clarke Smith, The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield, 160.

35 Four months after Confederate: Ridpath, Four months after Confederate: Ridpath, The Life and Work of James A. Garfield The Life and Work of James A. Garfield, 92.

36 "pride and grief commingled": Garfield to Lucretia Garfield, September 23, 1863, in Shaw, "pride and grief commingled": Garfield to Lucretia Garfield, September 23, 1863, in Shaw, Crete and James Crete and James, 189.

37 "I hope to have G.o.d on my side": Perry, "I hope to have G.o.d on my side": Perry, Touched with Fire Touched with Fire, 60.

38 Garfield's regiment did not have: Ibid., 5963. Garfield's regiment did not have: Ibid., 5963.

39 After he received his orders: Conwell, After he received his orders: Conwell, The Life, Speeches, and Public Services of James A. Garfield The Life, Speeches, and Public Services of James A. Garfield, 139.

40 In the end, the struggle: Perry, In the end, the struggle: Perry, Touched with Fire Touched with Fire, 7687.

41 "The [Confederate] regiment and battery": Ibid. "The [Confederate] regiment and battery": Ibid.

42 "resting there after the fatigue": Peskin, "resting there after the fatigue": Peskin, Garfield Garfield, 11819.

43 "something went out of him": Ibid., 19. Although Garfield had no sympathy for the Confederates, he could not help but admire the pa.s.sion with which they fought for their beliefs, no matter how misguided. "Let us at least learn from our enemies," he wrote. "I have seen their gallantry in battle, their hoping against hope amid increasing "something went out of him": Ibid., 19. Although Garfield had no sympathy for the Confederates, he could not help but admire the pa.s.sion with which they fought for their beliefs, no matter how misguided. "Let us at least learn from our enemies," he wrote. "I have seen their gallantry in battle, their hoping against hope amid increasing disaster, and traitors though they are, I am proud of their splendid courage when I remember that they are Americans." disaster, and traitors though they are, I am proud of their splendid courage when I remember that they are Americans."

44 "By thundering volley": Ibid., 233. "By thundering volley": Ibid., 233.

45 "like throwing the whole current": Garfield, "like throwing the whole current": Garfield, Diary Diary, November 2, 1855, 1:273. Although Garfield was a fierce and effective advocate for rights for freed slaves, his vocabulary at times reflected the racial prejudice of the time. While at the same time praising black men's courage and defending their right to fight for "what was always their own," he could casually refer to a neighborhood as "infested with negroes."

46 "trust to G.o.d and his muscle": Ibid., October 6, 1857. "trust to G.o.d and his muscle": Ibid., October 6, 1857.

47 "For what else are we so fearfully": Peskin, "For what else are we so fearfully": Peskin, Garfield Garfield, 234.

48 "A dark day for our country": Garfield, "A dark day for our country": Garfield, Diary Diary, December 2, 1859.

49 In the fall of 1862: Garfield defeated D. B. Woods 13,288 votes to 6,763. In the fall of 1862: Garfield defeated D. B. Woods 13,288 votes to 6,763.

50 "I have resigned my place in the army": Theodore Clarke Smith, "I have resigned my place in the army": Theodore Clarke Smith, The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield, 35556. Garfield did not hold Lincoln in high esteem. He thought the president was not strong enough, and he feared that Lincoln would lose his bid for reelection because of his "painful lack of bold and vigorous administration." Quoted in Peskin, Garfield Garfield, 239.

51 "What legislation is necessary": Peskin, "What legislation is necessary": Peskin, Garfield Garfield, 234.

52 "who have been so reluctantly compelled": Ibid., 253. "who have been so reluctantly compelled": Ibid., 253.

53 As head of the Appropriations Committee: Theodore Clarke Smith, As head of the Appropriations Committee: Theodore Clarke Smith, The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield, 796.

54 Garfield even defended: Ibid., 82627. Garfield even defended: Ibid., 82627.

55 "law of life": Garfield, "law of life": Garfield, Diary Diary, December 31, 1880, 4:499500.

56 "I suppose I am morbidly sensitive": Peskin, "I suppose I am morbidly sensitive": Peskin, Garfield Garfield, 301.

57 "first, I should make no pledge": Theodore Clarke Smith, "first, I should make no pledge": Theodore Clarke Smith, The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield, 14041.

58 "if the Senators.h.i.+p is thus": Peskin, "if the Senators.h.i.+p is thus": Peskin, Garfield Garfield, 340.

59 After a landslide victory: Ibid., 447. After a landslide victory: Ibid., 447.

60 "I have so long and so often": Garfield, "I have so long and so often": Garfield, Diary Diary, February 5, 1879.

61 "wait for the future": Rockwell, "From Mentor to Elberon." "wait for the future": Rockwell, "From Mentor to Elberon."

Chapter 3: "A Beam in Darkness"

1 "Don't fail to write me": Garfield to Lucretia Garfield, May 29, 1880, in Shaw, "Don't fail to write me": Garfield to Lucretia Garfield, May 29, 1880, in Shaw, Crete and James Crete and James, 369.

2 "The first half of my term": Hoogenboom, "The first half of my term": Hoogenboom, Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford B. Hayes, 4023.

3 Hayes's abdication: Clancy, Hayes's abdication: Clancy, The Presidential Election of 1880 The Presidential Election of 1880, 82.

4 The Half-Breeds had two top candidates: Presidential nominees would be chosen at their party's national conventions until the mid-twentieth century. The Half-Breeds had two top candidates: Presidential nominees would be chosen at their party's national conventions until the mid-twentieth century.

5 Although the Republican Party: Andrew Johnson was a Democrat and a southerner, but to prove that they embraced all men loyal to the Union, and to ensure Abraham Lincoln's election, the Republicans had made him one of their own by Although the Republican Party: Andrew Johnson was a Democrat and a southerner, but to prove that they embraced all men loyal to the Union, and to ensure Abraham Lincoln's election, the Republicans had made him one of their own by choosing him to be Lincoln's vice president. He became president after Lincoln was a.s.sa.s.sinated. choosing him to be Lincoln's vice president. He became president after Lincoln was a.s.sa.s.sinated.

6 The street he was walking on: Author interview with Chicago History Museum; Encyclopedia of Chicago, "Chicago's Lakefront Landfill," The street he was walking on: Author interview with Chicago History Museum; Encyclopedia of Chicago, "Chicago's Lakefront Landfill," http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/3713.html.

7 At the time of the fire: PBS American Experience, "People & Events: The Great Fire of 1871," At the time of the fire: PBS American Experience, "People & Events: The Great Fire of 1871," www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/chicago/peopleevents/e_fire.html; Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica, online, "Chicago Fire of 1871."

8 Within a year of the fire: Rayfield, "Tragedy in the Chicago Fire and Triumph in the Architectural Response," Within a year of the fire: Rayfield, "Tragedy in the Chicago Fire and Triumph in the Architectural Response," http://www.lib.niu.edu/1997/iht419734.html.

9 "Fresh crowds arriving": Garfield, "Fresh crowds arriving": Garfield, Diary Diary, May 31, 1880, 4:424.

10 The Interstate Industrial Exposition Building: Encyclopedia of Chicago, "Places of a.s.sembly," The Interstate Industrial Exposition Building: Encyclopedia of Chicago, "Places of a.s.sembly," www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/333.html. The Interstate Industrial Exposition Building was razed twelve years later to make room for Chicago's Art Inst.i.tute.

11 "the cool air of the lake": "The President-Makers," "the cool air of the lake": "The President-Makers," New York Times New York Times, June 5, 1880.

12 Although the hall could accommodate: "The Convention and Its Work," Although the hall could accommodate: "The Convention and Its Work," New York Times New York Times, June 3, 1880; "The Story of the Ballots," New York Times New York Times, June 8, 1880; photograph of convention floor, published in several sources.

13 "Blaine! Blaine!": Quoted in Peskin, "Blaine! Blaine!": Quoted in Peskin, Garfield Garfield, 465.

14 "asked me to allow his brother": Garfield to Lucretia Garfield, June 2, 1880, in Shaw, "asked me to allow his brother": Garfield to Lucretia Garfield, June 2, 1880, in Shaw, Crete and James Crete and James, 373.

15 "It is evident": Hoogenboom, "It is evident": Hoogenboom, Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford B. Hayes, 403.

16 "It is impossible": Theodore Clarke Smith, "It is impossible": Theodore Clarke Smith, The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield The Life and Letters of James Abram Garfield, 5051.

17 "too fond of talking": Peskin, "too fond of talking": Peskin, Garfield Garfield, 293.

18 "We have but faith": "Garfield's Eulogy of Lincoln," "We have but faith": "Garfield's Eulogy of Lincoln," New York Times New York Times, July 13, 1881.

19 "I have arisen at 7 this morning": Garfield to Lucretia Garfield, June 2, 1880, in Shaw, "I have arisen at 7 this morning": Garfield to Lucretia Garfield, June 2, 1880, in Shaw, Crete and James Crete and James, 373.

20 Ten years earlier: Hoogenboom, Ten years earlier: Hoogenboom, Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford B. Hayes, 324.

21 Since then, Conkling had personally made: Doenecke, Since then, Conkling had personally made: Doenecke, The Presidencies of James A. Garfield & Chester A. Arthur The Presidencies of James A. Garfield & Chester A. Arthur, 12.

22 He had helped to draft: Five years earlier, when Blanche Kelso Bruce, a former slave, was sworn in to the Senate after having been elected in Mississippi, Conkling escorted him up the Senate's aisle when the senior senator from Bruce's state refused to perform that traditional duty. He had helped to draft: Five years earlier, when Blanche Kelso Bruce, a former slave, was sworn in to the Senate after having been elected in Mississippi, Conkling escorted him up the Senate's aisle when the senior senator from Bruce's state refused to perform that traditional duty.

23 "thoroughly rotten man": Quoted in Hoogenboom, "thoroughly rotten man": Quoted in Hoogenboom, Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford B. Hayes, 412.

24 He offended fellow senators: Ackerman, He offended fellow senators: Ackerman, Dark Horse Dark Horse, 317n.

25 "some ill-bred neighbor": Conkling, "some ill-bred neighbor": Conkling, The Life and Letters of Roscoe Conkling The Life and Letters of Roscoe Conkling, 44.

26 "his haughty disdain": Chidsey, "his haughty disdain": Chidsey, The Gentleman from New York The Gentleman from New York, 91.

27 Even Garfield, who admired Blaine: After watching Blaine unashamedly try to Even Garfield, who admired Blaine: After watching Blaine unashamedly try to prevent the publication of an article on black suffrage that Garfield had written because it would outs.h.i.+ne Blaine's own work, Garfield noted with astonishment, "It is apparent to me that Blaine cares more about the glory...than having the cause of negro enfranchis.e.m.e.nt defended." Peskin, prevent the publication of an article on black suffrage that Garfield had written because it would outs.h.i.+ne Blaine's own work, Garfield noted with astonishment, "It is apparent to me that Blaine cares more about the glory...than having the cause of negro enfranchis.e.m.e.nt defended." Peskin, Garfield Garfield, 435.

28 "cool, calm, and after his usual fas.h.i.+on": "The Struggle at Chicago," "cool, calm, and after his usual fas.h.i.+on": "The Struggle at Chicago," New York Times New York Times, June 4, 1880.

29 "serene as the June sun": "The Convention and Its Work," "serene as the June sun": "The Convention and Its Work," New York Times New York Times, June 3, 1880.

30 "I shall never cease to regret": "The Evening Session," "I shall never cease to regret": "The Evening Session," New York Times New York Times, June 6, 1880; Peskin, Garfield Garfield, 467.

31 "folded his arms across": "The Evening Session," "folded his arms across": "The Evening Session," New York Times New York Times, June 6, 1880; Peskin, Garfield Garfield, 467.

32 "New York is for Ulysses S. Grant": "The Evening Session," "New York is for Ulysses S. Grant": "The Evening Session," New York Times New York Times, June 6, 1880.

33 "New York requests that Ohio's real candidate": Ackerman, "New York requests that Ohio's real candidate": Ackerman, Dark Horse Dark Horse, 84.

34 "Conkling's speech": Garfield to Lucretia Garfield, June 6, 1880, in Shaw, "Conkling's speech": Garfield to Lucretia Garfield, June 6, 1880, in Shaw, Crete and James Crete and James, 376.

35 "I have witnessed the extraordinary": "Nomination of John Sherman," James A. Garfield Papers, Library of Congress; h.o.a.r, "I have witnessed the extraordinary": "Nomination of John Sherman," James A. Garfield Papers, Library of Congress; h.o.a.r, Autobiography of Seventy Years Autobiography of Seventy Years, 39395.

36 "And now, gentlemen of the Convention": "Nomination of John Sherman," James A. Garfield Papers, Library of Congress. "And now, gentlemen of the Convention": "Nomination of John Sherman," James A. Garfield Papers, Library of Congress.

37 "I presume I feel very much as you feel": Conkling, "I presume I feel very much as you feel": Conkling, The Life and Letters of Roscoe Conkling The Life and Letters of Roscoe Conkling, 604.

38 The convention chairman: h.o.a.r, The convention chairman: h.o.a.r, Autobiography of Seventy Years Autobiography of Seventy Years, 395.

39 "The chair," wrote one reporter: "The Evening Session," "The chair," wrote one reporter: "The Evening Session," New York Times New York Times, June 6, 1880.

40 "Never": "Two Remarks of Garfield's," "Never": "Two Remarks of Garfield's," New York Times New York Times, July 10, 1881.

41 "General," he said, "they are talking": Peskin, "General," he said, "they are talking": Peskin, Garfield Garfield, 472.

42 The balloting began at ten: "The Story of the Balloting," The balloting began at ten: "The Story of the Balloting," New York Times New York Times, June 9, 1880.

43 Grant, as had been expected: "The Twenty-Eight Ballots," Grant, as had been expected: "The Twenty-Eight Ballots," New York Times New York Times, June 8, 1880.